Ed Joyce Named Ireland High Performance Batting Coach

Ed Joyce has been appointed Ireland high performance batting coach, Cricket Ireland confirmed. The role covers the men's senior squad and the male talent pathway. Joyce works alongside head coach Gary Wilson and reports into Graeme West, the director of high performance. He returns to the coaching staff after six years in charge of Ireland Women.

The remit is unusual in its width. One coach now holds batting across the senior team and the age-group system beneath it.

A remit that spans two levels

Joyce takes the senior men's batting group and the male pathway together. Many boards split those jobs between two coaches. Holding both puts the same technical voice in front of a capped international and a player still in the academy system.

Ireland draw senior and pathway cricketers from a small player pool. Players move up quickly. A single batting coach across both levels reduces the number of times a batter is asked to relearn a method on promotion.

The post is described as a high performance role rather than a team role. That places it with the pathway staff as much as with the match-day group. It also sets who he answers to.

A record built over 151 caps

Joyce played 151 times for Ireland and scored 5,552 runs at 40.82. Cricket Ireland lists the following career figures.

• 151 international appearances for Ireland
• 5,552 runs at an average of 40.82
• 10 centuries and 29 half-centuries
• 19 appearances for England

An average above 40 across 151 internationals is a rare return for an Ireland batter. His international career also ran through the period in which Ireland became a Full Member.

Two international careers

Joyce is one of the cricketers to have appeared for both Ireland and England at senior level. He played 19 times for England. He then returned to the Ireland side and finished his career there.

That route gives him first-hand experience of the gap Irish batters are asked to close. He has batted in both systems. Not many coaches on the Ireland staff can say that.

Back from the women's programme

Joyce was appointed head coach of Ireland Women in 2019. He stepped down in February 2025. The new post is his first with the men's programme since he stopped playing.

"Once I retired from playing, staying involved in Irish cricket was a high priority for me," Joyce said. "The head coach role with Ireland Women was a great experience." On the new job he added: "The talent is there, the goal is now consistency."

West on the appointment

Graeme West framed the hire around continuity. "Whether as player or coach, Ed Joyce has been an absolute asset to Irish cricket and we are delighted to have him return to our coaching ranks," the director of high performance said.

Joyce works to the same director and the same head coach as the rest of the men's staff. The role sits inside the existing structure. It is not a consultancy.